AT A MEETING of the NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE AREA TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANEL held at the Council Offices, Farnborough on Wednesday 13 February 2002.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); A.P. Collett; J.K. Glen; R.J. Kimber; M.J. Roberts.

Councillors P.R.C. Hutcheson and J.W. Stocks were in attendance for Item 4 as local members.

Hart District Council

Councillors: R.G. Parker; N. Lambert; P. Shoesmith

Rushmoor Borough Council

Councillor R.L. Dibbs

8. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

1. Minute 1(iii) - Disabled Access to rail stations

It was noted that there was no progress to report, pending the award of the South West Trains franchise.


2. Minute 1(iv) - Frimley Park Hospital Access

Stagecoach would be looking into bus access to Frimley Park Hospital as part of its next review of services.


3. Minute 5(iv) - Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route

Officers confirmed that a Quality Partnership agreement had been signed by Hampshire County Council; Rushmoor Borough Council; Surrey County Council; Surrey Heath Borough Council; Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Stagecoach.


4. Minute 5(vi) - Blackwater Valley Mass Transit Study

Officers advised that consultants were currently working on various options.


A presentation on the outcome would be made to a future meeting of the Panel.

9. YATELEY TOWN CENTRE - SCHEME UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the County Planning Officer and County Surveyor (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on progress made on the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme for Yateley town centre.

Members welcomed the report along with the work being carried out. Officers advised that a draft route management strategy for the B3272 would be available in the near future and a report brought to the Panel at a later date.

RESOLVED:

That the progress being made on the Yateley town centre project to implement the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy scheme and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme be noted.

10. FLEET TOWN CENTRE IMPROVEMENTS

Mr Gotel, a local resident, Dr. Fearn, on behalf of Fleet and Crookham Civic Society, and Mr Macallan, on behalf of Fleet Town Centre Management Group, made deputations in respect of the Fleet Inner Relief Road and the Town Centre Improvement scheme. The Panel then considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the matter.

The issue of the Fleet Inner Relief Road and other transport solutions for the town had been the subject of debate for many years. Extensive consultations had been held with the public together with meetings between business interests and Members. The Chairman reminded Members that the Inner Relief Road would be unaffordable and its building would cause serious delay to any further development in Fleet.

Generally Members agreed that the consultation process had been handled very well but that the issue of the Inner Relief Road was now obstructing the development of several necessary projects for Fleet. It would be necessary to begin narrowing down proposals for Fleet Town Centre.

Officers advised the Panel that results from a questionnaire issued during the public consultation indicated a substantial majority support for the preferred option of traffic and environmental improvements. A total of 19 out of 20 specific proposals received majority support also. It was proposed that the best way forward would be to proceed with a detailed design of the preferred scheme, taking on board modifications that had arisen during the consultation process.

The Chairman agreed to hold a meeting with local businesses, district councillors and any other interested parties to discuss further minor amendments to the preferred scheme that may be required, followed by a special meeting of the Panel to be held during June 2002.

RESOLVED:

1. That the outcome of the public consultation on the Fleet town centre proposals be noted.


2. That reports of the 2001 public consultation in Fleet and the project proposals (including technical information relating to the alternative options) be made available to interested parties and members of the public by means of copies placed in the public library and information on the internet, together with a summary leaflet available on demand.


3. That the petition submitted by Mr Gotel be considered not to solve the transportation issues, not be financially viable and not be in accordance with Government policies.


4. That Hart District Council be invited to investigate the supporting initiatives identified in the report.


5. That the Executive Member for Environment, with the support of officers, hold a public meeting to enable local businesses and other interested parties to further discuss the proposed scheme, and that a special meeting of the Panel to take place in June 2002 be arranged to address matters arising from the meeting.


6. That the Executive Member for Environment make the necessary arrangements for the County Council to abandon the Fleet Inner Relief
Road as a named scheme within the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review).


7. That Hart District Council be advised to delete the safeguarding for the Fleet Inner Relief Road from the Hart District Replacement Local Plan 1996-2006.

11. CAPITAL PROGRAMME - LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT, LOCAL TRANSPORT SETTLEMENT AND REVISED CAPITAL PROGRAMMES FOR 2001/02 AND 2002/03 TO 2005/06

The Panel considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which updated Members on the Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Report and in addition detailed the Local Transport Settlement for 2002/03 and revisions to the Capital Programme for 2001/02 and 2002/03 to 2005/06.

Officers informed Members that Hampshire County Council had been congratulated on its Annual Progress Report and that its progress with transport had been assessed as `well above average'.

RESOLVED


That the report be noted.

12. RAIL ACCESS TO HEATHROW AIRPORT - AIRTRACK PROJECT

The Panel considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which set out progress made in developing a proposal to link Heathrow Airport by rail from the South West.

Concerns were raised over the possible effect current problems with Railtrack could have on the proposal. The timetable was likely to be delayed. Members fully supported the proposal and agreed they would like to see it progressed sooner rather than later.

It was agreed that the Executive Member for Environment would be asked to write to the Chairman of SEERA supporting the proposal and commending its incorporation in the Regional Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED:

1. That the work of the Airtrack Forum in supporting the case for improved rail access to Heathrow Airport from the South West be endorsed.


2. That the Executive Member for Environment be invited to endorse the proposal on behalf of Hampshire County Council.


3. That the Panel commends its constituent authorities to offer such support as then can to the Airtrack Forum to assist in developing its technical studies
and communication strategy with a view to securing approval by Central Government and industry.

13. NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY - MONITORING

The Panel considered the report of the County Surveyor (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which detailed the monitoring exercise undertaken as part of the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

During the ensuing discussion several issues were raised, among them concerns at the lack of monitoring sites for the area west of Fleet. Members suggested the location of sites be investigated and that the `peak time' for monitoring be revised, as the original times of 0800 to 0900 would not cover all commuters.

RESOLVED:

That the results of the 2001 North East Hampshire Transport Strategy surveys and the Transpol household questionnaire surveys be noted.

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